Tray attachment for folding game table top



L. L. WITTER April 26, 1955 TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING GAME TABLE TOPFiled Jan. 29, 1954 INVENTOR. LAWRIE WITTER Um v}/1;Mu%

ATTORNEYS United States Patent TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING GAME TABLETOP Lawrie L. Witter, Newton Highlands, Mass. Application January 29,1954, Serial No. 407,044

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-103) This invention relates to a novel table-traycombination and more particularly concerns a tabel provided with a railfor supporting bracket trays adjacent to the margin of the table. Theinvention is applicable to various types of tables and since the traysare removable the tables can be used either with or without the trays.The functions served by the trays are numerous and one important useembodies a gaming or poker table in which the trays provide each playerwith a receptacle for holding his chips. The bracket trays are alsouseful on card tables for holding beverage glasses, score pads,providing individual lunch trays, etc. The production of a noveltable-tray combination embodying these and other feature's hereinaftermore specifically described comprises the object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will best be understood andappreciated from the following description of preferred embodimentsthereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a table-traycombination embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 2, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a further modified construction.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a circular table top 10 constructed to neston and be supported by a card table 12.

The top 10 illustrated is made in two half sections pivotally joined at14 for folding into face to face contact for easy and compact storagewhen not in use. It will be understood that the invention can also beincorporated in a table having legs attached to and supporting a unitarytop. A cover 15 of felt or the like can be cemented to the top ifdesired.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a game table commonlyknown as a poker table and having individual tray compartments at themargin for the players. In accordance with my invention, I provide asemi-circular rail 16 outwardly of and in closely spaced relation to themargin of each half section of the table. The rail is supported onbrackets 18 afiixed to the under face of the table by bolts 20. Thefunction of the rail is to support individual chip receiving trays 22and such other trays as may be desired. The tray 22 can be constructedfrom plastic material, sheet material, wood or otherwise and embodies aninner hook-like marginal bracket 24 for engaging over and supporting thetray on the rail, the bracket 24 being substantially flush with andforming an extension of the table as illustrated in Fig. 2

so that chips can be raked from the table directly into the tray.

The trays 22 will be of a size to serve the convenience of each playerand the table will be constructed to accommodate up to eight players. Itwill be noted that the trays are free to slide to any position along therail. The rail is also adapted to receive and support additionalreceptacles for serving various functions, such as the receptacle 26shown in Fig. 4 and adapted to serve as an ash tray or beverage glassholder. The rail 16 is non-circular in cross section and functions tosupport the trays horizontally and non-rotatably thereon.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the rail 30 is ofcircular cross section and is supported by brackets 32 and bolts 34. Thetray 36 is provided with a hook-like inner marginal bracket 38 forengaging over the rail and it has an inner face 40 abutting against themargin of the table. The construction supports the tray horizontally inthe position illustrated in the drawing.

A further modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 employs a plate 50secured to the margin of a table 51 by screws 52 and having anover-hanging bracket 54. The tray 56 has the top portion of its innerwall directed outwardly at 58 to interlock with the bracket 54 tosupport the tray horizontally as illustrated. The tray can be removed bya lifting pivotal movement about the bracket.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to tables andtable tops of various shapes and construction and can be applied to anytable to expand its use. It is particularly noted that the table topillustrated in Fig. 1 has duplicate half sections and since the traysare also duplicates the entire unit can be produced at minimum cost. Itis contemplated that the rails will be constructed in a variety ofattractive finishes including chrome, black, etc., and therefore serveboth ornamental and useful functions.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a table top having a substantially circular marginand jointed diametrically into half sections for folding relation, asubstantially semi-circular rail carried by each half section in closelyspaced relation to its margin, and a plurality of shallow chip-receivingbracket trays adapted to be removably carried on and extend outwardlyfrom each rail and including means for maintaining the trays inhorizontal position on the open .and horizontal table top andsubstantially in a common horizontal plane therewith.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each tray includes anopen chamber disposed beneath the top surface of the table and ahorizontal surface substantially flush with said top surface andbridging the gap between the chamber and table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS345,918 Palmer July 20, 1896 581,681 Shauer Apr. 27, 1897 818,004Thornton Apr. 17, 1906 1,074,173 Hines Sept. 30, 1913 1,747,710 HanleyFeb. 18, 1930 1,855,009 Clegg Apr. 19, 1932 1,921,645 Williams et a1.Aug. 8, 1933 1,937,994 Taylor Dec. 5, 1933 2,066,816 Wurzer Jan. 5, 19372,430,682 Merkle Nov. 11, 1947 2,463,400 Lowe Mar. 1, 1949 2,614,782Jackson Oct. 21, 1952

